Scientists: Golfers Could Go Deaf And Broke From Titanium Drivers

Actually, these "scientists" only mentioned the deaf part as Jonathan Brocklebank (he was a character in a Wodehouse novel, no?) reports in the Daily Mail:

Modern titanium clubs create a 'sonic boom' when they connect with the ball, say scientists.

The risk of going deaf is so great that doctors are advising golfers to wear earplugs while they play their tee shots.

I smell a class-action suit on behalf of all employees subjected to indoor hitting bay noise. Or maybe all Golf Digest Hot List judges?

Tests were carried out on six titanium clubs and six thickerfaced stainless steel models and sound levels measured.

While the steel clubs produced the agreeable 'tink' of a well-hit shot, the titanium ones were much louder, described by some as similar to a gun being fired.

Dr Malcolm Buchanan, an Edinburgh-trained ear, nose and throat specialist - and a keen golfer - said: 'Our results show that thin-faced titanium drivers may produce sufficient sound to induce temporary or even permanent cochlear damage in susceptible individuals.

'Players should be careful when playing with these thin-faced clubs as they make a lot more noise.'

Dr Buchanan, one of the authors of the report which appears in the latest edition of the British Medical Journal, added: 'Wearing earplugs is a possibility, although it might be a bit too radical for some.'

And in case you were wondering who the real offenders were:

They recruited a professional golfer to hit shots with six titanium clubs from manufacturers such as King Cobra, Callaway, Nike and Mizuno. All produced a louder noise than the stainless steel clubs. The worst offender was the Ping G10.

Comments

[Pickworth]

I agree the cash register has caused more problems than the titanium face. It's that "ker-ching - ping" sound that causes the real damage to golfers. Come to think of it, there's usually someone with a titanium face grinning at you when they take your money. "Ker-ching - ping". The 'worst offender' being Ping makes sense.

Jonathan Brocklebank lost in the first round of the Club Championship in 1931 and never recovered. Cash Register won in a canter and married Annabelle. They've both had titanium faces ever since. (With apologies to Joseph T Shaw for those who care. I do.)

[GtBB]

POW!!!!!!!!1!!one!!!!!!!!!!1

[Tuco]

I have a G-10 and truly it is not loud at all.. I've hit clubs like the Cobra and others (cleveland etc) that needed earplugs.. The callaway square driver was horrible.

[Chuck]

The USGA has begun a five-year study of driver noise, which, since it is a five-year study, will be completed in the year 2047.

[Lynn S.]

Tiger seems not affected, camera shutters are still picked up by his ears despite thousands of clings with the Nike Sumo.

[Steven T.]

My rankings:

1. Cobra LV4
2. original Nike Sumo square
3. Mizuno MX-560

The new Cleveland Launcher is real nice and has a very low decibel level. The Ping G-10 is nowhere near the Cobra IMO. The new Ping Rapture V2 is also low decibel.